His first thought was that she was no beauty, his second that she had very shrewd eyes. Her indefinable air of expensive chic slightly alarmed him, but he found her perfectly easy to get on with, if not very helpful.
She corroborated Maud's testimony. She had never yet, she told him, stayed at Lexham Manor without finding herself pitchforked into the middle of a family quarrel. "Though I'm bound to say," she admitted, "that things weren't usually as sultry as they have been this Christmas. That was Joseph Herriard's fault. He meant it all for the best, but he's one of those tactless creatures who spend their whole lives putting their feet into it. This time he's surpassed himself, for not content with getting Miss Dean into the home he allowed Miss Herriard to bring Mr. Roydon here."
"I understand that Mr. Roydon came to get Mr. Herriard to finance a play of his?"
"That was the general idea," admitted Mathilda. "But Mr. Herriard thought not."
"Very upsetting for Mr. Roydon," said the Inspector invitingly.
"Not at all. He is now determined to let the play stand on its merits."
"Oh! And Miss Herriard?"
"Miss Herriard," responded Mathilda coolly, "treated the assembled company to a dramatic scene - she's an actress, good in emotional roles. I wasn't present, but I'm told that she and Mr. Herriard had a really splendid quarrel, and enjoyed themselves hugely."
"Seems a funny way to enjoy yourself, miss."
"It would seem funny to you or to me, Inspector, but not, believe me, to a Herriard."